USING a slice of the great rugby league vernacular, Alex McKinnon was saying in so many words how he wanted to take his lorry load of lemons and make litres and litres of lemonade.

“There is no point of me having the shits, being angry about the situation as it is,’’ McKinnon said from his wheelchair at his media conference in Sydney to raise momentum behind the NRL’S “Rise For Alex’’ round this weekend.

“You’d think I’d be filthy on the world and filthy on the game but I’m not. You take each day as it comes and either way you will be in this situation.

“You may as well be happy … not be happy, just be content with the situation. I can still enjoy time with my friends. If I’m cranky, I’m not going to be fun to be around.’’

Alex McKinnon fronts the media, thanks supporters
1:51

Alex McKinnon has fronted the media for the first time since he was left paralysed on the field in March ahead of the 'Rise for Alex' NRL round.

Fox Sports

14 Jul 2014

Sport/NRL/Previews & Reviews

Aside from his couple of video messages on the Knights website, like the one in which he said he wanted to walk fiancee down the aisle at their wedding, this was the first time most league lovers had heard McKinnon speak.

And what we heard was a young country footballer, the sort of likable, uncomplicated character who could just as easily have played the game in 1974 as 2014.

The 22-year-old will return to Newcastle for the first time since suffering his spinal injuries in Sunday’s clash against Gold Coast, part of the round in which the NRL has pledged $1 for each paying spectator at any ground.

Life changed for the forward from the Hunter Valley hamlet of Aberdeen on March 24 when he was lifted in a tackle by three Melbourne players, from which Storm forward Jordan McLean was suspended.

Since McKinnon has been in hospitals in Melbourne and Sydney, while making a couple of appearances at Knights games which were morale raisers for his worried clubmates.

McKinnon said he has enjoyed heartening progress over the last four months and is determined to come out of his rehabilitation in the best physical shape he could be.

He explained a little about how he has more movement than he had when he came out of his induced coma in a Melbourne hospital.

“You see a lot of stories about people who get on with their lives and don’t walk again. My focus is to get as much back of my movement as I can and I am slowly improving,’’ he said.

“As much as I would love to get home and get back to my family and get on with my life I want to walk again.’’

McKinnon put his unwavering support behind the game he loves when asked the most fair dinkum question of the conference, one which many will have disliked: “What did he think of how lifting tackles have been policed?’’

“I have no comment on that. Rugby league is a safe sport,’’ McKinnon said.

“I believe it is and what rugby league has done for me in my life is ridiculous. I wouldn’t have been the person I am or met some of my best mates without rugby league. I wouldn’t change it for anything.

“There are more spine injuries from getting into a car than playing rugby league.’’

Newcastle Knights forward Alex McKinnon.Source: News Corp Australia

Rugby league has a long, laudable history with helping up players who have fallen on hard times.

That’s not to say that every deserving case gets the hand-up they need, but one of the reasons the code started in the first place was so players would be paid as compensation for time lost at work due to work.

As well as maybe $150,000-plus from the NRL’s $1 per spectator initiative, league people are encouraged to donate online at www.riseforalex.org.au or by texting RiseForAlex to 0498 555 555.

Channel 9’s Footy Show program on Thursday night will also carry a telethon.

Spending $2 on a red and blue “Rise for Alex’’ wristband buys a lot of perspective.

“I hope everyone in the rugby league world can support him one way or another,’’ Knights coach Wayne Bennett said.

“They can go to a game or buy a wristband. I’m confident they will support him as much as they can.

“He’s a pretty outstanding young man and he’s become even more outstanding in my eyes since the accident because he’s more concerned about us and how we feel and when we come to see him he’s always putting on a brave face.”

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